The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-20
BARREro.s BRAVE DEFENSE.
Single-Handed He Reststs an Attack by q
Band of Bernars Brigands.


SingIe-Handed He Reststs Attack by q
Band of Bernars Brigands.
San Francisco Chronicle.
Among the passengers of the guaranteed
steamer Grenada, which arrived in port Friday,
is Jose Lorenzo Barreto. of Guadalupe. in the
State of Sinaloa, Mexico, who shot and killed
four men of the bandit king Eraclio Bernals
band on the Sd of June last Meagre details of
me attack on the isolated mining camp. w ,
have reached the United Stated Barreto is
part owner of the Estaca gold mine. short dis
tance from Guadalupe. The night before Ber-
nal made his descent Barreto and his partner
Francisco Echeguren, brought from Guadalupe
So. 600 to pay off the men. This money was
placed in a safe in the companys store. Bernal
became possessed of this Information, and early
next morning Barreto. who slept in the store
near the safe, was awakened by demand to
open the door. He arose, and looking through
the window, saw q score of armed men. He re-
fused to open the door, and was told he did SO at
the peril of his life.
One man, who evidently of BernaIs
lieutenants and leader of the party, consulted
with the rest, which gave Barreto time to form
a plan Of action. He was alone. againstDtwenty
twenty-five men. The door. heavily
termined to resist. and resolved to sell life
dearly. Like all stores in that country. the
company's establishment was we'll supplied with
firearms. Barreto collected all the rifles, pis-
tolls, and ammunition he could, and took his
station near the window. As soon he heard
the bandits hammering at the door with the
through the window. The promiscuous reports
of rifles and pistols made the bandits believe
that they had been expected and that the store
we'll defended. Barreto was therefore over
joyed when he saw them retreat, bearing with
them several wounded but keeping up indis-
criminate fire at the enemy concealed behind
the window IN the store.
Escape was impossible. The band WAS still in
sight. but Barreto hoped that the firing had
awakened the miners and his partners. who
would form a small army and come to his rescue
h0 CIR YfYfA nGanf M mr. a n
partner, Echeguren, did try to rally the men, but
fearing Bernals wrath, even if they escaped with
their lives tho latter refused to proceed to the
rescue. They said that Bernal vas sure, sooner
later. to return with larger force if defeated
that time, and would annihilate them ALL
Echeguren and the superintendent followed the
men into the mine, where they sought safety.
Barreto, who was anxiously awaiting develop
ments in his improvieed fortress. soon dscov
cred. to his utter dismay and disgust, that tho
treat of the bandit leader was simply ruse to
gain time, he awaiting reinforcements
under the leadership of the bandit king Bernal,
himself, and which arrived just as the miners,
Echeguren, and the superintendent were enter
ing the mine. Barreto saw from the window
that Bernal. after speedy consultation with his
leutenants, had formed plan. There were
about 100 men in all. One-half of them lmme-
diately opened fire on the window behind which
Barreto was concealed, while the others pro-
ceeded to pound in the door, which of course
finally yielded. Barreto in the meantime had
kept up continuous fire, killing four and
wounding six men, himself being wounded in the
arm Bernal entered the store at the head OF
the men. He Immediately had instituted
search for Barreto's companions who he be-
lieved had secreted themselves. He refused to
believe. until finally convinced, after a personal
investigation, that it was BarretO alone who had
resisted so bravely and killed four of his band.
II trembled," said Barreto in relating his
story, Il trembled lest he should, making
this discovery, order me shot down the spot
His little sharp eyes rested on me for a moment
and then he opened his lips to speak, to pro-
nounce my death sentence. / thought Where
is the money! he asked curtly, at the same time
gianclng at the safe. and without waiting for my
answer he advanced and examined the lock. 1t
was one of those old arrangements opened with
a key. He OWNED that had this in my pocket.
and had me searched Finding it. he opened the
safe took out the bag of money, which he
handed to his men. and then he again advanced
had used in my defense. He picked them up
one by one, examined them with eye OF an
expert. threw aside those which were of poor
make and selected the BEST which he gave to
his men. This he went through with remarka-
BILE GOODNESS. Then he turned to me once more.
gazed at me from head to foot with a look which
a man would give while examining a blooded
horse he intended to purchase
lyon are a brave fellow said he finally
make you present OF your life, forgive you
the death OF my fellows. because you brave
man. Upon look from their captain, the ban
dts let go their hold on me-
I'm the meantime detachment had been sent
in tothe mine to bring out Echeeuren and the su.
These were strapped on mules and
carried away by Dernal to his mountain retreat.
He informed me that if wanted either one or
the other alive within five days they would be
released for a ransom of $15. 900. This sum was
raised and paid over to Bernal the next day,
whereupon the captives were set free"
Passengers on board the Granada, who came
from Mexico, vouch for Barreto's story as true
and supplement it bv others equally blood
curdling and exciting in detail.
Bernal has long been a terror in Mexico. The
mountains where he makes his home are his
stronghold. Every attempt of the authorities
to capture him has failed. He has repeatedly
repulsed and defeated whole companies of
soldiers who have invaded the mountainous dis
tricts, urged on by the promise of heavy rewards
for his capture.
His band consists of from $50 to 200 men
murderers, assassns and fugitves from justice.
who have sought safety under his standard.
One reason why he can carry on his depredations
with so much freedom, it is said is because the
settlers hold him In fear and terror. He has
never molested poor mans possessions, and if
any of his men did he always made
restitution with ample interest All kinds of
tales of his munifcence and kind and noble
deeds" performed by this assassin extant.
The poor do not modest him because he does not
modest them. The arm of the law is not strong
enough to reach him, and he is thus enabled to
hold supreme sway 1t is said that he, like the
robber barons of old. swoops down whole
settlements and relieves them of their riches.
His men are always on the forage, and it
costs a great deal to maintain and equip them,
the amount and extent Of their depredations
may be imagined.